# Words you hate people using **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 28, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990 "2012-01-28T14:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/1 "2012-01-28T14:29:27Z")
What are words you hate people using? Mine are: **Nice** - When used to describe a person, I find ‘nice’ to be a very weak adjective. I guess because of the association of ‘nice’ guys, I find the word to be very two faced. On the surface people think “moderately good”, but i’ve found people use nice when they cant think of anything specific about the person they like or respect. Personally I believe the significance of a compliment is based on how specific it is. describing someone as ‘generous’ instead of just ‘nice’ for example. Nice is a watered-down, lukewarm tea of a word, a cheap, uncreative wedding gift, the trophy they give the last place competitor for ‘trying’. **Mean** - This is another vague word I dislike. Many times people will describe someone as ‘mean’ when subjected to constructive criticism. At some point in our lives we have to come to realize we are not some Special Snowflake, and part of that revelation comes from people in our lives who knock us down a peg. Since the person giving the criticism is well-meaning, it might be hard for a person to articulate why they dont like what they are hearing. People often use ‘mean’ at individuals who are telling/doing something we dont want or cannot accept. When they are doing something genuinely mean-spirited, its better and easier to use something more specific (rude, sadistic, spiteful, ignorant, etc) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/2 "2012-01-28T14:41:17Z")
**Foot** - How long is that 2X4? It’s about 3 foot. No, it’s 3 _feet_. I know, it’s a common convention. It still sounds wrong to me. **Seen** - Do I even have to explain this one? You didn’t _seen_ anything. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/3 "2012-01-28T14:51:10Z")
I have to agree with **nice,** although I particularly loathe when it is used by someone to dismiss what the the other person is saying. For instance, you’re telling a co-worker something and they reply “thats nice”, and immediately change the subject. The same goes for assholes who use “uh hu” and “yeah” in the same manner. **Like:** “So this dude was all like ‘man, you should seen this chick…’” “Don’t mess with that dog, or he’ll just like, rip your face off”. ---
**Author:** ![ptr2void](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ptr2void/32/3406_2.png) [@ptr2void](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ptr2void)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/4 "2012-01-28T15:07:24Z")
I am very annoyed by people using the word _utilize_ instead of _use_. Simply unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![Incubus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@Incubus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Incubus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/5 "2012-01-28T15:17:33Z")
> [@ptr2void](#): > > I am very annoyed by people using the word _utilize_ instead of _use_. Simply unnecessary. I notice a common pitfall with resumes is stuff like this. People try to fluff up their accomplishments with flowey language, and just end up coming off vague. ---
**Author:** ![Al\_Bundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e79b87/32.png) [@Al\_Bundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al_Bundy)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/6 "2012-01-28T15:33:55Z")
I hate to hear people using the “n” word or other racially shocking words. There’s just no need for bad language. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/7 "2012-01-28T15:39:56Z")
“Loose” when they mean “lose”. [http://loseloose.com/](http://loseloose.com/) ---
**Author:** ![LegsAkimbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f1d935/32.png) [@LegsAkimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LegsAkimbo)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/8 "2012-01-28T16:02:41Z")
Ginormous. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/9 "2012-01-28T16:15:39Z")
**Salve**. Ointment, cream, unguent, lotion; I can handle any of those. But “salve” just riles me up. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/10 "2012-01-28T17:01:27Z")
stabby - when i hear that i get all well you know ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/11 "2012-01-28T17:42:15Z")
_Pop_ as a verb. As in: Just pop it in the oven. _Bubbly_ as a description of a young woman. Usually “she’s bubbly” means we couldn’t think of anything good about her and she’s kind of loud. ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/12 "2012-01-28T18:22:55Z")
**Socialist** - since most people use it to mean “scary thing the other party is proposing” instead of what it actually means. **defensed** - often used in sports to described the act of defending. However, there’s already a perfectly good word which means the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![figure9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f0a364/32.png) [@figure9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/figure9)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/13 "2012-01-28T18:40:52Z")
**Proactive-** This buzzword has always annoyed me. **Moot-** I often see this word used to mean the opposite of what it means. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/14 "2012-01-28T18:43:34Z")
Spendy - Use expensive instead please. Comfy - Use comfortable instead please. Guesstimate - Use guess or estimate instead please. Dude/man/bro - Use friend, buddy, sir, or Drew instead please. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/15 "2012-01-28T18:56:39Z")
I dislike **orientated** instead of **oriented**. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/16 "2012-01-28T19:00:39Z")
Literally. No, you didn’t literally explode when you heard it. I rarely hear anyone use this one properly. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/17 "2012-01-28T19:02:05Z")
> [@Al\_Bundy](#): > > I hate to hear people using the “n” word or other racially shocking words. There’s just no need for bad language. Along these lines-“retarded” used to denigrate an idea or non-cognitively impaired person. ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/18 "2012-01-28T19:20:02Z")
Greta Van Susteren grates on me every time she says ‘normalicy’ instead of the correct normalcy or normality. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/19 "2012-01-28T19:28:43Z")
> [@figure9](#): > > **Proactive-** This buzzword has always annoyed me. > > **Moot-** I often see this word used to mean the opposite of what it means. I don’t mind moot too much, but it is very common for me to hear it is a ‘mute’ point, and that makes me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990/20 "2012-01-28T19:32:18Z")
Well, two words: “Aren’t I?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/words-you-hate-people-using/610990.md?page=2)